By Carey Mulindi
The resignation of Eliud Owalo from his position as Deputy Chief of Staff marks not just a personal political pivot, but a potential reshaping of Nyanza’s political landscape.
Owalo’s departure from public office to pursue the presidency in 2027 positions him as a bold challenger in a region long dominated by the late Raila Odinga and the ODM party.
Owalo’s strategic timing, making the announcement during the 106th anniversary of his grandfather, Prophet Johanna Owalo, founder of the Nomiya Church was symbolically powerful.
The Nomiya Church, being the first African indigenous church in Kenya, is rooted in cultural and spiritual identity, particularly in Luo Nyanza. By aligning his political ambition with this legacy, Owalo is subtly invoking both spiritual legitimacy and cultural authority.
Politically, Owalo has traversed key power centers: from Raila Odinga’s 2013 campaign, to Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC, and most recently, to William Ruto’s government. This cross-spectrum experience allows him to frame himself as a unifier with insider knowledge across Kenya’s fragmented political elite.
His strongest message, however, lies in his open challenge to ODM’s long-standing grip on Nyanza. His call for political pluralism resonates with the constitutional ideals of multi-party democracy. In the post-Odinga era, Owalo may be seeking to fill a leadership vacuum, especially among young or disillusioned voters yearning for a shift from political tradition.
The 2027 political matrix is still fluid, but Owalo's move signals the early stages of a broader realignment. His potential to galvanise a new political base in Nyanza hinges on his ability to deliver a compelling narrative that moves beyond anti-ODM rhetoric to a concrete vision for economic reform and national unity.
Eliud Owalo's resignation is not a mere career shift but a calculated gamble to reconfigure both the Nyanza vote and Kenya’s broader political order. Whether he succeeds will depend on how well he marries heritage, ideology, and grassroots mobilization in a region deeply loyal yet increasingly restless.
The writer is a photo journalist working with Royal Media Services (RMS) currently based in Nairobi.
